This is a continuation of one of my posts done last year on the worst of Canadian human rights. While they may be read individually, check out that article too using the link below!
Link: https://youthareawesome.com/the-worst-of-canadian-human-rights-japanese-canadian-internment/
The event that best highlights Canadian human rights is the Multiculturalism Act of 1971. Brought into effect under the Pierre Trudeau administration, this act was made to specifically acknowledge Francophone rights in Canada after the growing unrest within the Francophone community.
This unrest was caused by the fear of cultural and language loss, which led to the development of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism in 1963. That commission would later create changes in Francophone education, create a Multiculturalism Ministry, and pass the Official Bilingualism Act of 1969.
This commission combated issues Francophones faced and found numerous methods to address them, one of which was the Multiculturalism Act of 1971. This act was the first of its kind around the world and recognizes the individual value that every culture brings to Canada’s ‘multicultural fabric’. The fear the French felt would later resonate with many other newcomers who needed to be reassured that their contributions were recognized in our society.
This is the most impactful in the sense of human rights, as it recognized the importance of protecting individual identities and showed that you can maintain your identity while fully participating in Canadian society. Since this act was the first of its kind, it also set an example for the rest of the world to follow suit and stray away from America’s melting pot attitude.
The legacy that this act brings forward is one of acceptance, recognition, and individuality. With a diverse history and country, Canada legally values all groups and should be constantly recognizing them. Whether this act has been followed through with is a controversial topic, but legally, we all have these rights. Even though this action from the Canadian government is quite hypocritical, given the constant assimilation they subjected towards many minority groups, such as the First Nations, this act was a step in the right direction for our society today.